The Observation Deck

A runner goes by Miss Statue of Liberty.

This past weekend, Lakewood's City Services were pushed to the breaking point. With the Rite-Aid Marathon coming
through Lakewood, The Porchestra throughout the city, and closing down Detroit Ave. on Sunday afternoon took a
toll on overtime, and volunteers.



Events in Lakewood have grown since I was a kid. While we lost Lakewood Days, something City Hall should look at bringing back-- maybe to benefit the Historical Society-- the number of events has grown and grown and grown. While it is easy to say it is because of private groups, none of it could be done without the support of the City of Lakewood, and of course Lakewood Police/Fire and City Services. To play in a city you need to ask the city’s permission.

Melissa Garrett, and now Michael Bowen, are the unsung heroes of Lakewoodites. Melissa for decades has sat in on every meeting and made sure the needs of the city are met. Also at the meetings are usually Joe Beno (City Services), Scott Gilman (Fire/Rescue), Sergeant Gary Sprague (Lakewood Police) and whoever the group is. Unbeknown to most Lakewoodites, this crew has helped to prepare for all of the fun events this city now enjoys. Without them, no party. Thank you all for the positive image you help Lakewood to put forward through these events, and thank you for helping to make them successful.

But why?

Sunday morning was the Rite-Aid Cleveland Marathon. A nice 26.2 mile jaunt through the Westside in around 2 hours. Thousands of people take part, and the city of Lakewood, which is glad to have the event, has to shut down every cross street on Lake and part of Clifton. With police or volunteers at every one of them. Also our city services had to be called in, as there would inevitably be barricades set up, taken down, and streets to clean. Is it worth it?


I had missed the 7am start so drove over to Belle and Lakewood for a photo of the pack going past the Lakewood Park wall. I mean nothing would capture the feeling more than a pack of runners, in front of our premier park, and the only one open after dark. As I get down there I talk with the local police, and some of the people in the crowd and everyone seems upbeat on this perfect spring morning.


The Studio 82 Dance Team showed up to entertain the runners.

As I head back to the Southwest corner of Belle and Lake, I find Kevin Scott on his bike. Kevin, who is one of those middle-agers spending an extraordinary amount of time on running, biking, squash, etc. starts laughing and says, “What are you doing here?” I smile and say, always interested in how the other half lives, and we exchange pleasant small talk, then he's off on his bike. I used to see Kevin and his family but life has taken us in different directions, so it was great running into him.

Soon Mike Deneen walked up, he was on his way to Detroit Ave. following the race as he walked along. It was during this time, that I heard a distinctive Boston accent, and asked the gentleman speaking where he was from. He said “Bauston.” I laughed. It was just too cliche. He was there with his wife and daughter, cheering their son Shaun “with a U!” on. He was hoping to qualify for the Boston Marathon, and Cleveland looked like a great spot to try. They were Downtown (small N) so they would be near the Rock Museum, Casino, etc. and near race central.

I asked his name and he said “Paul Dever.” I started to laugh again, here Paul Dever from Boston had landed in
Lakewood by chance, as someone had told them Lakewood has a good park (one even open after dark), and it would
be a nice, safe fun place to watch from. I say hello and ask where he is from and he says, "Plymouth, Mass. You
know the difference between Bostonians and Clevelanders?" I say "No, what?" He says, "My people came all the way
from England on the Mayflower and landed in Plymouth. Your people came from Boston going to California, and
couldn't make it all the way." I laughed and said, "Why would you leave heaven?"


Paul Dever from Plymouth Mass. another Lakewood resident, and LO's Stan Austin talk
about Stan's fastest times running.

I asked if he knew Lakewood’s Devers, Mike and Stacey, and he said no, but he had relatives in Youngstown. I asked what they did for the mob, and he laughed, and made an Irish joke. His son Shaun “remember with a U!” had been a runner in high school, and college, and was pretty quick they said. It was about then that LO’s runner Stan Austin wandered up and started his patented, “No let me tell you one more story…” and everyone on the corner joined into the conversation, laughing, telling jokes, and enjoying the morning.


The leader in the wheelchair division flies by Lakewood Park 10 minutes before the first runner.

Suddenly the first wheelchair went flying by. Damn was he fast. It gives you great pause, and I stood on the sideline. Here I was trying to start the day with a short walk, a cup of coffee, and some mindless banter. This guy was doing 27 miles using his arms! To all parathletes that took part, you kicked my ass royally. Standing ovation from me. Now back to the banter and coffee.


The fastest runners are amazingly quick and smooth runners. Here Eliud Too, who finished
second leads eventual winner, Philp Lagat #112.

The first runner went flying by, and the Devers from Boston started putting on wigs, face masks, signs everything. Some more runners went by, and suddenly they were cheering. Really? I raised my camera and Shaun went through at about 12th! Even high-fiving the old man as he went by! I walked over and said, “The kid is fast, huh?”


Shaun runs by in about 12th place as mom Deborah, sister is Jessica, and father Paul cheer
from the curb. Shaun feeling good enough to high-five the old man.



Suddenly the group next to us started to shout for some guy named Ian. Another group of Irish people from Boston! The two families didn't even know each other. Ian was in about 25th! Then the next group started acting giddy for their friend “Diane” who was doing the marathon. All up and down Lake Road people cheering, clapping, talking, sharing coffee and Bloody Marys. It was a splendid day. Packs of people running by as the Studio 82 dance team entertained them, people who knew none of the runners shouted encouragement, and great fun was had by all.



I had walked down 6 houses to the Lakewood Devers hoping to catch them at home, but no cars around, and I do not knock on doors at 8am on a Sunday without a real emergency. I knew that Mike and Stacey would have invited them all in for breakfast. Oh well, next year.

As I headed back to Belle and Detroit, Paul walked up and said, “We are headed back Downtown (small 'n') as soon as Shaun “remember the U!” gets back, but Lakewood seems like a nice city." He said that he enjoyed our street corner for the morning, and would treasure the photos he has of Shaun running through it. Shaun came back through Lakewood in 10th place or so, well on his way to qualifying for the Boston Marathon.




"Diana" flies by friends.





Every chance Lakewood has to amplify our brand in a positive light outside of Lakewood is good. After all, every city ends up in a constant battle for good PR and trends. Lakewood’s brand has always been as a bedroom community, that is clean and safe, with great schools, and a great library. Recently we have added "most exciting" in Ohio. It is all good and it helps us find like-minded people for the roughly 11% of the housing in transition. At the end of the day, that should be our goal: always finding more like-minded residents to move here, live here, raise their families here, and be part of the next group that brings a great event to our streets with the help of City Hall.

This morning I got this note from Shaun who qualified for his first Boston Marathon!


Shaun heads back past the family.

Hello Jim,

Thanks for your support out there during the marathon today. I understand that my dad, Paul Dever, spoke with you at length at miles 12 and 20. I am proud to have finished my first marathon today. I ran the race I had planned for the first twenty miles, and even though I struggled through the last 10K (6.2 miles), I was able to record a Boston Marathon qualifying time, my overall goal for the day. My official time was 2:55:35.

I decided to run in Cleveland because it gave me my first marathon experience with the people who matter most, my family. My brother, his wife and their new baby boy live in Streetsboro. My parents and sister traveled out and I was lucky to have all of them out on the course with signs, pom poms and the loudest cheering squad I heard all day.

I understand that you are the publisher of The Lakewood Observer. Lakewood is a beautiful neighborhood and was a huge part of the race. As I ran through Lakewood, I was overwhelmed by the support of the people in the neighborhood and spectators lining the streets. I came to the Cleveland Marathon from Massachusetts, where the Boston Marathon makes Patriots Day one of the biggest holidays of the year. I honestly wasn't sure what kind of support there would be out along the course in Cleveland, but the people of Lakewood were loud and enthusiastic during the later miles when I needed it most.

Again, thanks for your support out there. I am a proud finisher of the Cleveland Marathon and I've surely enjoyed my Cleveland experience.

Sincerely,
Shaun Dever

When you think of the people who ran through the city talking to friends and relatives,
and you back it up with "7th Most Exciting Small City In America," "Best Suburb in the Region," "Best Schools In The Region," etc. it has a cumulative effect on people looking in on our city as a place to live, or go to.

I have to say this is where the city really succeeds, and where we have truly made our
name as "the place" is the partnership between the City and all of these grass root groups
that have sprung up over the decades to bring fun and excitement to Lakewood. I hope
this ability to partner grows, and I have no reason to think it will not.

Once again, to everyone at City Hall, The Lakewood Police, Lakewood Fire, Melissa Garrett, Michael Bowen, LakewoodAlive, and all of the volunteers thank you for making us all proud,
and for helping to secure our property values in this town we love.



75 photos from the Rite-Aid Marathon here:
http://lakewoodobserver.com/photoblogs/jim-obryan/cleveland-marathon-2014

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Great post, Jim.